I’m sitting on my balcony today looking out at the beautiful island sunrise. I feel the dew on my cheeks from the warm winter air. It’s 70 degrees here, and it doesn’t feel anything like the cold bitter Midwest winters I grew up with.

Both my kids lay nestled in their beds, while I sit here drinking hot black coffee in the peace of early morning.

It’s incredible the places military life takes us–emotionally, physically, spiritually. It all feels like a whirlwind most days. My heart aches during deployment, mends during homecoming, and somewhere in the middle of it all, I find peace.

I find peace in days like today. A day that is normal. A day when we are just a regular family. A day when I am a regular woman who gets up, showers, and drinks coffee while her husband and kids are asleep.

Looking at the sun rising out here in the middle of the pacific, I can’t help but think how darn lucky I am to experience this. It’s incredible the places military life takes us.

Over the course of 2015, military spouses bloggers all over the world were taken to emotional highs and lows via the avenue of military life. They experienced deployment, homecomings, PCS moves, relationship challenges and victories, long-distance phone calls, career searching, soul searching and so much more.

That’s what makes military life and military spouses one incredible group of crazy, messy beautiful people.

Today I wanted to share something special with you–a collection of amazing stories and posts written by military spouses for military spouses. This is each writer’s top post of the year. They are the best of the best. Some have viral shares, some have hilarious jokes, some make your heart ache. But together, they are all amazing.

Cheers to a wonderful 2016

Thank you so much for stopping by to check out these beautiful posts written by a very diverse group of military spouses!

As this year comes to a close, I wanted to thank you for reading week after week. One and half million people stopped by The Military Wife and Mom blog this year. I am blown away, humbled and so thankful for all the blessings of 2015.

About Lauren Tamm

I'm Lauren, a military spouse and licensed Language of Listening® parent coach. I write about my crazy parenting adventures, discovering happiness in motherhood and navigating the ups and downs of military life. I spend my days re-heating coffee while chasing my kids around the house. Hang around for a bit and join the fun!

I would love to discuss partnering! My website is MilSpouseJobs.com and it is composed of job listings that are ideal (remote) for the military spouse! Please feel free to email me at michellepenczak@gmail.com 🙂

Here’s what military families are saying about Military Wife and Mom…

I already found useful tips to help my spouse. I feel connected even though Navy life keeps us from spending time together before deployment arrives. Great course!”

Sarah Rohrer

The encouragement and the helpful reminders are invaluable.

Melinda Walker

I’m more confident. I now have tools in my belt to work through things, instead of feeling helpless. I loved the videos…hearing Lauren’s side of it and her personal experience using the tools she gave us. THANK YOU! Lauren, you have put my mind at ease to know that there are tools out there and ways to get through this!